Abstract

The axiological determinants of politics as a social sphere — an outline of problem

The starting point of the paper is an attempt to define politics as a relatively educed domain of social life, while pointing at these elements of social sphere which are directly or indirectly associated with the phenomenon of politics. In this context it was assumed that politics is a certain field of social life constituted by the configuration of the relations and activities which are determined by conflicts, struggle, compromises and cooperation among social groups, political organizations, political decision centers and individuals that all together endeavor to realize their fundamental needs and interests throughout the execution of or influence on the political power. Thus, politics, remaining an immanent part of social life, is a human creation, a precise response to one’s needs, desires, expectations, pursuits, aims and values; thereby politics is a piece of culture determined by the core cultural values. That is the reason why politics and this what is political cannot be separated from values and evaluations, and the most important thesis underlining the axiological determinants of politics is the fact that its subject, creator as well as recipient is human being — the sole creature endowed with axiological consciousness. The author, trying to show the relations between politics and the realm of values, analyzes the nature of value itself as well political values and their functions in sociopolitical environment. These considerations end with the brief characteristic of political realism and idealism which leads to the conclusion that each politics is a mixture of idealism and realism, and if one of these components begins to dominate, if an excessive dose of idealism eliminates realism — or vice versa – then such politics is doomed.